Poll: Voters back renewables and ambitious emissions reductions for the NEG

New polling three key Liberal seats of Warringah, Wentworth and Kooyong on the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) policy shows voters overwhelming support pricing carbon, would be more likely to support a NEG that achieves 50% renewable energy, and do not think the NEG will lower electricity prices and back the States keeping their own renewable energy targets.

The new ReachTEL polling, commissioned by The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program, surveyed residents across the federal electorates of Wentworth (859 residents), Kooyong (911 residents) and Warringah (879 residents) during the evening of 19th October 2017.

“In three key liberal held seats, these results are overwhelming evidence the community wants to get on with the transition from coal to renewables,” said Ben Oquist, Executive Director of The Australia Institute.

“The key to effective energy and climate policy is as much about the ambition as the design of any scheme and these results show voters back a more ambitious program of emissions reduction.

“The heart of the problem with the details we have so far on the NEG is that it suggests Australia will have only a renewable energy penetration of between 28-36%. This is less than what Chief Scientist Alan Finkel modelled would happen without any government policy intervention.

“Furthermore, the 26% emissions reduction from the electricity sector announced by the government is inadequate and will shift the burden to other sectors like agriculture,” said Oquist.

Previous modelling analysis by the Australia Institute shows the most economically efficient path to meeting Australia’s international commitment would see the electricity sector reducing emissions by between 40%-55% below 2005 levels by 2030.

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